It only seems like new developments are springing up "everywhere" in West Seattle, but it's an optical illusion.

When people talk about development, they frequently have in mind multistory condominiums. apartment buildings and retail stores. To be certain, there are numerous multilevel commercial buildings being built in West Seattle. But large-scale developments are mostly restricted to established business districts or along major streets, not single-family, residential neighborhoods.

Some new developments are in established neighborhood business districts such as the Junction. We've seen other development in the Admiral business district, Morgan Junction and Westwood Village.

Other new developments are popping up along West Seattle's arterial streets because some major streets are zoned for multilevel housing and commercial use. That's why carpenters, roofers and plumbers have been busy at numerous construction sites along Delridge Way, California Avenue, Fauntleroy Way, 35th Avenue, Avalon Way and Alki Avenue.

There also are large housing projects currently being built at High Point in West Seattle and Greenbridge in White Center, where hundreds of publicly subsidized as well as privately mortgaged homes are under construction.

If a community must have multilevel development, it makes sense to cluster it around business districts where other multilevel buildings are located. It also seems reasonable to allow such development along the community's busiest streets.

There is some construction activity in residential neighborhoods to be sure. Contractors are building new houses as well as adding second stories and other additions to individual houses. But most of West Seattle is still zoned for single-family houses in residential neighborhoods.

And that's as it should be.